Page 13 of Fractured Souls

My classes are all really hard, but I have so much time to study that I've been able to keep up for the most part. Mother has been careful not to hit my face again since last month when I went to school with the bruises and split lip. I also got that cup of shit that burns my throat again last week because I spoke at home and apparently the mute thing is to be kept at all times, not just at school. Not sure how the fuck I was supposed to know that, but I don’t think she cared that I didn't. The rotten bitch just enjoys hurting me.

Father has been coming downstairs more often and just staring at me when he thinks I'm sleeping. I'm not sure what to do with that, so I just pretend to sleep, but it's starting to scare me.

My body hasn't gotten any stronger, mostly because I still get beat all the time, so it's kind of hard for my body to heal fully and gain strength. Most days, I'm so exhausted when I get home that I can't do anything to stop the beatings. Mother does something at least once a day, almost like an addict. I seriously think she is addicted to hurting me. I also think she is purposely keeping me weak, so I don't start getting stronger to run or fight back.

I found out Tabby goes to private school and can do whatever she wants, so she is barely ever around. Robert or Rob, my oldest brother, is at college, but I overheard that he comes home for Thanksgiving this month. Hopefully he's not as bad as everyone else. I have yet to meet him. I don't think he knew I was here when he lived here. But he was also rarely ever home that I knew of.

Being able to go back to school this last month has been such a blessing. It's given me a new sense of hope. Reminding me that there is better out there and not just what happens in that basement. I want to be out; I need to get out.

I've been thinking a lot about how I can do that. I know my best bet is to run away from school, but I have to be careful and do it right or else I could make things worse. I've been trying to think of people my mom might have known that I could go to. But I can't really think of anyone yet. I know that if I run away, I'll probably go back to where I was raised in Auburn, Massachusetts. It just seems like it would be the best option. But until I can actually get out and even think of a plan to get away, I just need to keep getting money and saving as much of it as I can.

Mother has been better at bringing me cans of food again, so I only get protein bars from the vending machine sometimes. I know I don't eat enough, but it's the best I can do right now. My body is weak unfortunately, but I just have to make do until I come up with a plan.

I come out of my thoughts as Mother comes down to uncuff me so I can go to school. I get my pants on, then head up after putting my shoes on and take off. We don't talk in the mornings which is a rule she set because apparently, it's just too tempting to hit me if she's around me for too long, and she saves those blows for after school. I head to school and instead of waiting for Lex today, I head towards the courtyard.

Before I can get there, however, the school’s mean girls, or as I like to call them, the Barbie Bitch Squad, step in front of me. There are three of them.

Steph, who is the queen barbie, wears so much makeup she seriously looks like a barbie. She has always given me nasty looks, but this is the first time she's directly come up to me.

Her minions cross their arms. I don't even know their names, but they are basically bitch one’s—sorry, Steph’s—minions. You never see her without them, and they dress like her. They wear just as much makeup, too.

"Stay away from the guys. Ry and Cade are mine. They always have been and will always be. You have no shot with them, so back the fuck off." She smirks at me.

I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying something since I'm not supposed to talk, but it's fucking hard. Something about her calling them by nicknames and excluding Grayson really grates on my nerves. I'd like to punch her in the face, but I know I'm weak. I'd be no match if she threw a punch back at me. So instead, I clench my fists and raise a brow.

"Oh dear, I forgot you can't speak. Whoops. Well then just listen to my pretty voice. Stay away, mutt, or else I'll make your life hell. Once I have the guys, no one will dare to even look at me wrong." She smirks again. "Come on, girls." She walks away, not even looking back at the girls to make sure they are following.

I roll my eyes as they follow like pathetic little ducks. Sorry, that's disrespectful to ducks. They follow her like the pathetic barbie bitches they are. I sigh and keep heading towards the courtyard, wishing I could've said something to her.

It's been a few days since I pickpocketed someone, and I feel an urge to do it again. It makes me feel better the more money I can stash. So, I walk around until I pick my victim and then get to work with a giddy feeling and my veins pumping with adrenaline.

Honestly, I love doing it and it’s time I start thinking about myself.

Got to become the devil, right? Step one: pickpocket.

ChapterSix

Ryker

I'm standing in the courtyard with my brothers, Cade and Gray. We watch as the cute little redhead comes walking into the courtyard prowling around looking for a victim. She picks out a nerdy dude who is standing with one other guy with cash literally just sticking out of his back pocket.Idiot.

Harley walks by and bumps into the nerd's friend and gives a shy grin, then ducks her head. As she rounds them, she snags the cash.

It's fucking smooth, if I’m being honest. She’s gotten better at it over the last month.

Yep, we've been watching her. We first saw her pickpocket the lunch lady three weeks ago. The fucking lunch lady. We all got a good laugh out of that and ever since then, she's gotten better and better. The little shit stole from our piano teacher, too.

No one has seen anything. We notice, but we keep our distance and make sure no one else does. Hate to have to kill them. But so far, our little redhead has been very good at not getting caught or being seen by anyone.

I couldn't be more proud.What? I'm not fucking normal.

Over the last month, we’ve kept an eye on her and have slowly started talking to her, but we don't want to overwhelm her. It's not hard to tell she is skittish. So, we keep contact to a minimum for now. Hopefully that'll change soon. I don't have much patience. But until then, we watch her.

Okay, well, I watch her a lot. I've skipped a lot of classes just so I could keep an eye on her. I want to follow her home, but I haven't found a way onto her bus yet.

Plus, Gray keeps telling me I'm taking it too far.

Maybe he's not taking it far enough.

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